Spring connection



July 25, 1933. R, R. sEARLEs SPRING CONNECTION Filed DeG. 4, 1930 R O T N E V m w E N R O T A Patented rJulyV 25, 1933 `UNuraD srArEs Parent erstes RAYMOND R. SEARLCE-S, OF NEW TAlNyCoNNEcTlCUT, ASSIGNOR TOIII-IE FAFNIR BEARING COMPANY, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- spinne eonnno'rroiv My invention relates to a spring connection and more particularly to an anti-frictioi spring connection for a so-called hinge en It is an object of the invention to provide a spring connection of the character indicated which will be simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, easy to assemble, and secure and sturdy in use.

It is another object to provide a spring connection of the character indicatedy ink which certain parts need not be made with the highest degree ofl accuracy and yet which will function accura-tely'in use.

Other objects will appear or will be hereinafter pointed out.

Briefly stated, in a preferred form of the invention I provide a support having a bore for receiving raceway members.- Interposed between the raceway members I employ means having raceways 'complementary to the first mentioned raceways and preferably serving also to space the first mentioned raceways apart. Anti-friction bearing members are interposed between the comple-` mentary raceways and serve to take radial loads. The raceways are held in place by one or more resilient means.

In the drawing which shows, for illustrative purposes only, a preferred form of the inventionv Fig. 1 `is a side view in elevation of a hinge end spring connection 'illustrating fragments of a spring and frame; v

Fig. 2 is an end viewinrpartial" section of the connection shownin 1. v

In said drawing 5 indicates a frame, while 6 indicates a spring to be connected thereto.

The frame or support in the form sho-wn includes spaced apart bosses 7 7, having bores 8 8 therein.Y Ineachbore is a bearing member, such as a bearing cup 9, which preferably fits the bore and is supported radially thereby. The spring 6 carries bearing means, preferably in .theform of a bearing pin 10 having raceways 11 11 complementary to the raceways of said cups 9 9 and preferably formed directly on the ends of said pin. Anti-friction bearing members, such as balls 12, are interposed between the cups 9 9 and the raceways 11 11. l

It is preferred to have the 'pin 10 engage the cups 9 9, so as to definitely space the same apart.` When such cups are engaged bythe ends of the pin 10 the raceways are preferably so formed that the balls or other anti-friction bearing members 12 take only between the engaging parts of the pin 10 and the cups 9 9. v

The cups 9 9 are held in the bores resili- .ently so that the parts will not be unduly end turned up, as indicated at 16, so as to permit a tool'to be inserted for easy removal of the rings. f

The anti-friction bearing members 12 are preferably unitarily carried with the cups 9 9. As illustra-ted,` each cup is bowed up centrally, as indicated at 17, so as to form ai grooved raceway, and a plate or washer 18, secured to the cup 9, serves to prevent outward displacement .of the balls. A washer 19 of feltlor the like may be carried by Vthe cups or be interposed between the eye of the spring or any other suitable shoulder, for eXample,-on the pin 10, and the `plate 18, so as to effectively excludewater and dust and effectively retain lubricant on the antiffriction bearing members.

The assembly of the device is relatively simple. rI`he pin 10 is set into the spring eye and may be a very tight friction fitting or may be positively held, as by means of a yset screw, not shown. rlfhe spring eye with the pin 10 attached is then moved into the position shown in Fig. 2, the bosses 7 7 being cut away, as indicated at 20, to permit the ready insertion of the pin 10 transversely. The bearing cups 9 9 are then vradial loads, end thrusts rthen being taken slid kin from the ends'` of the bores, after which the resilient plates 13-13 may be indeiined in the appended claims. I claim:v v l serted and iieXed to the necessary degree and the snap rings 14 inserted to hold all of the parts in position. The presence of the plates 13-13 or escape from the bosses but the plates likewise resist rotation of the cups by `reason of the frictional engagement oi said `plates with saidcups near the outer edges of the latter. y y e I have thus provided a spring connection which is quite simplein construction, easy to assemble and,`due to the relatively ieX- ibly held parts, inaccuracies in manufacture will be taken care ci andyet theparts will ifit as desired.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail I wish it understood that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope ofthe `invention as l. In a spring connection, aframe member having spaced apartbosses (with bores therein, a spring having a bearing means projecting from opposite `sidesthereof and lhaving raceways for anti-friction bearing members a't the ends thereof, a pair` of bearing cups' within said bores and iitting over and engaging the ends of said bearing means to be thereby spaced apart, yanti-friction bearing kmembers interposed between saidV bearing means and said bearing cups for sustaining radial loads between said bearing `means and said cups, and means vfor `resiliently holding said bearing cups in said bores in engagement with said bearing means.

`2. In a spring connection, a frame memberliaving spaced apart bosses with bores therein, lsearing cups in said bores, means inte-rposed between said bearing cups and having raceways for anti-friction bearing members thereon, said means serving to space said bearing cups apart, anti-friction bearing -not `only holds the cupsfrom outwardmovement way means interposed between said raceway members and engaging the same for spacing them apart, anti-friction bearing members interposed `between said raceway members and said raceway means, andineans tor resiliently holding said raceway members on said support.

4. In a l.spring connection, a supporting member having a bore therein, abearing raceway in said bore, a second bearing race Way engaging said first mentioned raceway in said bore, and a resilient plate engaging said first mentioned raceway land held in said bore, whereby said raceways are resiliently held in engagement with each other.

fitting a groove in said bore and holding said resilient plate in place.

` 6. In a spring connection, a frame having spaced apart kbosses withbores therein, bearing cups in said bores, a bearing pin inter posed between said bearing Cups and engaging the same for spacing the latter apart, saidbearing pin having raceways 'formed directly thereon, anti-friction bearing meinbers interposed between the raceways on said bearing pin and said bearing cups, a resilient plate engaging each of said bearing cupsfor holding the latter in resilient en gagement with said bearing pin, each of said bores having a groove therein, and split ring vin each of said grooves and engaging said resilient `plates for holding the same in place. v "7. In a spiing`coniiectioii, a support for iaceway members, yraceway means complementary to said i'aceway members, anti-liriction bearing members interposed between said raceway members and said raceway means, a resilient plate engaging one of said raceway members, means i'for holding the other of vsaid incewayv members against axial movement, said plate beingilexed to hold said race-wayrv members resiliently in place, and means for securing said resilient plate to said support. :i i

' RAYMOND R. f5Ei/i-ltliln5.`

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